Published: Oct 05, 2015, 03:54 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 05, 2015, 07:21 PM (IST)
Zimbabwe have posted a moderate total in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) between Zimbabwe and Pakistan at the Harare Sports Club, Harare. Going into the decider game, Zimbabwe were always going to be tested temperamentally and their batsmen, like they did in the second one-dayer set up the platform before Bilal Asif, the surprise weapon ran through the batting line-up of the hosts to keep them down to a moderate but fighting total of 161. Zimbabwe will be disappointed with the way they could not make full use of the platform set up by their top-order batsmen LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan 2015, 3rd ODI at Harare
Zimbabwe started well with both Chamu Chibhabha and Richmond Mutumbami putting up a 89-run stand to set the platform for Zimbabwe. Mutumbami started slowly but grew into confidence and picked the right balls to go after. Chamu Chibhabha was the first one to depart when he chipped one back to the bowler, Bilal Asif to get out on 48. Brian Chari did not last long and was trapped in front of the stumps by Wasim for a score of 4. Mutumami who was promoted to opening notched up his second ODI fifty but could not ensure Zimbabwe did not lose wickets in a cluster. Live cricket updates: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, 3rd ODI at Harare
Bilal Asif ran through the middle order taking five wickets in a spell. None of the Zimbabwe batsmen were able to read him and kept looking to attack him without reading him at all. It again summed Zimbabwe’s problem of doing the hard-work but then spoiling it by one phase of ordinary cricket. Mutumbami eventually fell to Mohammad Irfan for a score of 67 off the bowling of Mohammad Irfan, the same man who had blown his helmet away with a nasty short one. Malcom Waller coming in hit a few lusty blows but Imad Wasim took two in an over as Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 161.
Pakistan will be confident of chasing this total down and will be looking to win the series 2-1. Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and inserted Zimbabwe into bat. They for some reason dropped Yasir Shah for Imad Wasim. Azhar Ali suffered from foot infection and was replaced by Ahmed Shehzad with Sarfraz Ahmed leading the side. Zimbabwe too made a couple of changes, bringing in Malcom Waller and Tino Mutombodzi for the injured Graeme Cremer and Hamilton Masakadza.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe 161 in 38.5 overs (Chamu Chibhabha 48, Richmond Mutumbami 67; Bilal Asif 5 for 25) vs Pakistan.
(Nikhil Popat is a diehard cricket enthusiast and a PotterHead till the end of time. He can be followed on Twitter @CricCrazyNIKS)
